Description of this Book

Rufus is a monster. But he doesn't feel like a Tip-Top monster. Every monster book he's read says that monsters are supposed to scare Peoply People and there aren't any of those in his desert. Rufus decides that there is only one thing for it. He's going to have to find a Peoply Person to scare. But where in the world are they all hiding? The bestselling author of Man on the Moon and Bob's Best Ever Friend returns with a new, stink-tastic character.

Awards, Reviews & Star Ratings

NZ Review

Meet Rufus... he's got big sharp teeth, a super-stinky bottom and he's a truly splendid monster! Author and illustrator Simon Bartram, perhaps best known for his Blue Peter Award-winning The Man on the Moon: A Day in the Life of Bob starring the laugh-out-loud character Bob and his amazing extra-terrestrial dog Barry, returns with a hilarious monster story with a heartwarming twist. Rufus is a truly splendid monster. But he doesn't feel like a Tip-Top monster. Every monster book he has read says that monsters are supposed to scare Peoply People and there aren't any of those in his desert. He has nobody to frighten so Rufus decides that there is only one thing for it. He's going to have to find a Peoply Person to scare. But all he can find is a van full of vampires, a witch on a motorbike, a ghost family on a day out with their ghost dog and lots of other weird characters. So where in the world are all the Peoply People hiding? The outrageous Rufus is going to knock mischievous young readers for six with his armpit pong, eggy bottom stink and cheesy toes! And there won't be a dry eye in the house when he finally encounters Daisy, a beautiful little Peoply Person... and gives her a monster hug. Brimming with Bartram's larger-than-life, colourful illustrations and a sense of fun that permeates every page, the adventures of lovable rogue Rufus are monstrously entertaining! * The Lancashire Evening Post * Rufus is a new picture book by Simon Bartram, creator of Bob, Man on the Moon, and this is another enjoyable romp with hidden messages and other-worldly creatures. 'Rufus was a truly splendid monster', we learn - but because he has no one to frighten, he doesn't feel like a 'tip top scary monster', so he sets off to put this right and to find some 'Peopley Persons' to scare; he had read about them in books. However, While Rufus does find lots of other strange creatures, he doesn't find any 'Peopley Persons' until right at the end but fortunately, by this point, he has also learned that 'Peopley Persons' can be fun and the story ends with lots of warmth and heart. I love the landscapes that Bartram conjures for Rufus, and all the hidden messages in the images, something Bartram is a master at - while Rufus is hunting for humans, they are closer than he thinks and children will love spotting the visual clues! As well as helping develop their visual literacy, this book is a great starter for creating their own monster (there's a lovely 'diagram' of Rufus at the start of the book, showing what makes him such a good monster), while older children could write their own 'expert book' about what makes a human, human. * Reading Zone *

Author's Bio

Simon Bartram (Author, Illustrator) Simon Bartram studied Graphic Design, specialising in illustration, at Birmingham Polytechnic. He has gone on to w rite and illustrate a number of picture books, including the bestselling Blue Peter Aw ard-w inner The Man on the Moon: A Day in the Life of Bob. He has also w ritten a popular series of illustrated fiction books about the adventures of Bob and his dog Barry.